There are gatherings that feel like endings. And then there are gatherings that feel like standing high above tree line in the Colorado Rockies — where the air is thin, the sky is unreasonably blue, and you suddenly understand how small you are and how connected you have always been. I attended a celebration of […]
Building a Community that Outlasts Us Read More »
February arrives quietly, carrying the language of love into a world that still feels unsettled. This is not the easy love of cards and flowers, but the steadier kind—the love that stays when systems strain, when grief lingers, and when the news refuses to soften. In traumatic times, loving ourselves becomes an act of resistance
Love as a Creative Practice in Uncertain Times Read More »
A Holiday Reflection Inspired by Senator Kim’s First Speech This week, newly elected Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey stepped onto the Senate floor for the first time—and instead of policy talking points, he spoke about the personal and financial cost of caregiving. It landed like truth ringing across a chamber that rarely hears it.
When Caregiving Becomes the Nation’s Blind Spot Read More »
December rarely slows down—not in our world, anyway. It’s a whirlwind month full of holiday gatherings, year-end planning, medical appointments, winter weather surprises, and the constant hum of everyday caregiving life. During this season, Mikelle and I find our to-do lists grow longer, not shorter, and reflection happens in the in-between spaces: in the car,
Be Ready September came and went with its quiet reminder: be ready. The world seems to tilt a little more each year—storms stronger, systems shakier, power grids less reliable. So, Mikelle and I decided it was time to do more than talk about preparedness; we became, as she likes to say with a grin, “a
Lessons from September’s Emergency Preparedness Month. Read More »
Stories. Stories, when told truthfully, have the power to turn bureaucratic walls into open doors. They make the invisible visible. They remind us that behind every policy, form, and acronym, there is a human being trying to live a good life. Last week, I found myself once again telling Mikelle’s story — not to an
The Unexpected Moment It was a late spring day, and the snow was wet and heavy. The kind of storm that makes you want to curl up by the fire with a cup of coffee, listening to the world go quiet under a white blanket—a perfect day to stay home. Then the phone rang. “Hey,
When Stories Open Doors: Families, Resources, and the Lessons of Viki King Read More »
At the heart of our home is a calendar. Not the kind that counts the days, but one that holds the rhythm of Mikelle’s life—steady, specific, and essential. It may look ordinary at first glance, but for us, it is the compass by which care is guided, stories are shared, and continuity is secured. The
The Calendar at the Center of Care Read More »
Girl’s Night Out Some nights just sparkle—and our evening at Film on the Rocks watching Legally Blonde was one of those unforgettable nights. Mikelle and I, along with our friend Maryann, headed up to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a little bit of Elle Woods magic under the stars. From the moment we pulled into the
Pretty in Pink and Perfectly Included: Mikelle’s Night at Red Rock Read More »
The Lingering Scent of Conflict Conflict smells vague and bitter—like day-old coffee, sulfur before a match ignites, or uncollected trash lingering too long on a sweltering day. It clings to frozen sidewalks on a frosty morning, settling into the cracks of daily life. Left unattended, conflict can shudder a window, shut a door, or close a once-open
Love in the Crossfire: Navigating Valentine’s Day in a Divided World Read More »
